brownfield

Michigan House Republicans have approved a budget that would cut funding and staff at the state’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development by almost 10 percent. Appropriations subcommittee chair Ken Burton told members during this week’s meeting many programs have been reduced to their three-year average actual spending levels. “We’re not cutting off the most […] The post Michigan House budget plan shifts ag funding, boosting animal ag research while […]

The owner of one of the largest sale barns in the country says he’s concerned rising fuel prices are going to impact consumer buying habits. Jackie Moore is with Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri. “The consumer that’s got to spend a lot more of their income daily, weekly, monthly, to get around to get to work, when that fuel gets […] The post As fuel and diesel prices climb, cattle industry braces for added pressure […]

The farmer who installed the first robotic milking system in the U.S. twenty-five years ago says a lot has changed.  Pete Knigge of Omro, Wisconsin, tells Brownfield that back then, getting parts and service was much different. “They actually had one individual with a van with all of the parts in it that serviced us, […] The post Dairy farmer looks back on 25 years of robotic milking appeared first […]

Five leaders in Missouri agriculture were inducted into the Missouri Agriculture Hall of Fame last week for their impact on the state’s ag landscape. Anson Elliott, the former director at Missouri State University’s College of Agriculture, John Fletcher with Central Missouri AGRIService in Marshall, Jackie Moore with Joplin Regional Stockyards, Jim Novinger a farmer from […] The post Missouri agriculture Hall of Fame inducts five leaders appeared first on Brownfield […]

Five individuals have been appointed to the Missouri USDA Farm Service Agency’s state committee. The new chair is Robin Wenneker from Columbia. Neal Bredehoeft from Alma, Barry Kagay from Amity, Kate Lambert from Laclede and Josh Worthington from Dadeville have been named members of the committee. These individuals oversee FSA programs and operations at the […] The post Five appointed to Missouri USDA Farm Service Agency state committee appeared first […]

An online tool from the University of Wisconsin helps farmers decide how to best keep their cows cool. Victor Cabrera with the UW Extension’s dairy department says the Heat Abatement Investment Scouter allows dairy farmers to evaluate the Return on Investment (ROI) and payback period of investing in cow cooling systems, such as fans and […] The post Tool helps dairy producers make heat abatement decisions appeared first on Brownfield […]

The agriculture aviation industry is starting the 2026 growing season by urging drone pilots to yield right-of-way to manned aircraft. Jeramy Williams with Wisconsin-based American Drone tells Brownfield that airplanes, helicopters, and drones are all in the fields at the same time and at the same low altitudes, so safety is key. “Whether you have […] The post Ag drone pilots urged to yield to manned aircraft appeared first on […]

Research by Ohio State University shows the importance of tracking the body condition scores for dairy cattle.  Researchers say changes in body condition throughout lactation generally follow a pattern that mirrors the lactation curve. During early lactation, cows may lose some body condition. Then, after peak milk yield, cows begin to regain condition as nutrient intake meets […] The post Ohio State dairy research shows value of monitoring body condition scores  appeared […]

Illinois commodity groups are closely watching a bill in the General Assembly that they say would limit farmers’ ability to manage wetlands. Corey Lacey, environmental policy manager with the Illinois Soybean Association, says the proposal (HB 3596) would effectively undo the 2023 Sackett v. EPA decision that was win for agriculture. “It would expand state […] The post Illinois commodity groups alarmed over proposed wetlands legislation appeared first on Brownfield […]